Who rides motorcycles?
- Thread starter kcflhrc
- Start date
Kyle_in_Tex
Super Star Member
My brother left behind an 82 IT 465 that a guy had gotten inspected and licensed. Gray area.
Anyway, I could not keep a kick start return spring in that thing. It would break off at the elbow where it stuck in the plastic ring bushing. In hindsight, I should have tried to heat and anneal the elbow section with a fine torch. I bet I bought at least 3 of those springs. I gave it to a friend.
sd455dan
Super Member
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2012
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- 5,245
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- North Idaho
- Tractor
- Rhino 554, Ford 550 TLB (JD X500, MTD, Gilson riding mowers) Ford 3000-Sold
My 1st street bike was a similar year Suzuki GS 550
It was a fun small framed bike.
ps. Spent a couple hours today working on the 465, washed out the plastic desert tank , aired up the tires, pulled the carb and cleaned out the main and Pilot jet, and made sure the needle and seat was working OK.
Checked the transmission oil and looked as good as new- nice and clean.
Dumped some of my chainsaw gas ( Bel-Ray MC-1 at 45 to 1) and started kicking like a dumb a-- with my sneakers on.
She backfired once and I stopped went in and put some boots on, " sore foot". Brother would have laughed at that
Another 3 kicks with the fuel enrichment pin pulled up and she fired up. Let the engine warm up a bit and took it for a shake down run.
Bike is running PIG rich, Have to see if I still have an assortment of Mikuni main jets... need to check and clean the air filter first but, the engine sounds good otherwise, not a lot of piston slap, and transmission shifts Good. Forks feel like they are low on oil and from the rod seals I bet they are in need of some work.
Still Put a Big smile on my face and hope my brothers to.
He loved to ride, but as his health went downhill in his later years he mainly rode his street bikes- an anniversary edition Harley and his trusty 1976 Honda 750.
Darth_DMack
Silver Member
This is my current Scoot. It's a 2019 BMW R1250GS Adventure. I can tell you, I've owned 11 bikes since I started riding almost 40 years ago. This one by FAR is my absolute favorite. There are 30 motorcycles I'd love to have, if money and space were no issue... but there is not ONE bike I'd trade this one in for. Not one.
Darth_DMack
Silver Member
My wife has a 2019 BMW F750GS, and we are always out exploring. We love to load up the bikes, and just ride to find a campsite, getting lost along the way...
Rockbadchild
Veteran Member
nice bike, but too quiet for me in my opinion a bike must have bit of a rumble ... my dream bike would be the Honda Africa twin maybe one day ... do you have a opining about it ?
Darth_DMack
Silver Member
I used to club race for many years. I was a Track Day Coach, currently a MSF Rider Coach, and to me, loud bikes are annoying. I wear ear plugs, for my hearing is almost completely shot. I want to be able to hear my music (comms in my helmet), so I find my Boxer perfect for me. As for the Africa Twin, it's a very capable adventure bike, the 21" front wheel definitely helps in the technical areas. The Inline Twin of the Honda, is silky smooth, and very reliable. I rode one for a while, as well as the KTM 1290 Super Adventure... but, I've always loved the smoothness and the low center of gravity of the Boxer.
I ride with some very talented riders, some are on Africa Twins, some on KTM's, some on V Stroms, but most of us are on BMWs. In the end, find what you like, what fits you, and ride often. After discovering the "Adventure Riding" Genre, I'm hooked. My next bike (if I get a second) will be a Yamaha Tenere' 700 (T7).
Rockbadchild
Veteran Member
That's cool man, thanks for the impute, my cousin uncle has a Tenere 700 and it is a very nice and capable bike very affordable as well, I would like to have one of these as well...
I have a 450wr I love it but not fast enough (too high RPM at 100km/60mph) for long ride just not made for that, I love it for off roads or little windy road but it ends there, guys with their KTM 450 and 500 just lose me behind with their 6th gear...
Jrasband
Gold Member
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- Dec 31, 2021
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- Southwest VA
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- 2022 Kubota M7060, 2014 LS XR3032, 1987 Case IH 585 4wd, BCS 853 w/ 26" tires
I have 2001 Suzuki GS500 that has sat for a few years. I recently started going through it to get it back on the road. The tank had rust in it, I got it all out with vinegar and chains strapped to the tractor! The tank has small holes in it from the rust... Anybody have a recommendation on how to repair the holes? I tried stick welding them with 1/16 rods on low amperage with reversed polarity and all I did was burn the holes bigger....
Other options are soldering, braising, and 2 part epoxys. I do not have tools to braise but I could get a decent solder gun for pretty cheap if it seems like I could fix the tank with it.
Other options are soldering, braising, and 2 part epoxys. I do not have tools to braise but I could get a decent solder gun for pretty cheap if it seems like I could fix the tank with it.
Darth_DMack
Silver Member
That is a pretty common bike, you "should" be able to find a replacement tank out there... Zuki made like eleventy-six bazzilion of those awesome little GS500 / GS550s.